On Sunday, the acting Minister of Public Health said that the under-five mortality rate of children has increased due to microbial disease across the country. 

Observing the global handwashing day on October 15 in Kabul, the acting minister of MoPH, Qalandar Ebad, expressed concerns over the child mortality rate, declaring that 55 out of the 1000 children are dying before reaching 5 years old due to microbial disease. 

“Statistics show that 55 of the 1,000 children die before age 5,” Qalandar Ebad said  

The acting minister urged Afghan citizens to prevent spreading the deadly microbial disease by maintaining efforts to keep the society clean. 

He said that washing hands is one of the ways to prevent disease. “I ask parents to assist us with promoting the issue of washing hands with water and soap.”    

Abdul Bare Omar, deputy minister of Health Service Provision, told the gathering: “ Afghanistan is a poor country and its residents are talented. They have always played their role to keep their home, village and environment clean.” 

In the meantime, pointing to polio cases in Afghanistan, health officials said that polio is still a serious problem in the country. 

October 15 is the global handwashing day. The day is dedicated to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of washing hands.